People celebrating Labor Day outdoors are advised to use insect repellant to ward off mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus.

ZEELAND, Mich. (WZZM) - The growing threat of West Nile Virus is impacting outdoor cookouts this Labor Day. Health officials are urging people to take extra precautions, especially when outside for long periods of time.

Bob Baldus Jr. plans on using two different kinds of mosquito repellent during his Labor Day barbecue.

"I'm very concerned because there is no cure for it and people are getting real sick and dying," says Baldus Jr.

"Older people can catch anything more than young people because they have an immune system to fight it off, where we can't," says Bob Baldus Sr.

Health officials recommend staying inside during dusk and dawn. The Baldus family plans on ending the barbecue early to be safe.

"It's going to be earlier. It'll be before dark definitely," says Christina Baldus.

"We're going to be going in at around 6 p.m., normally we stay out until 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.," says Baldus Jr.

Health officials recommend spraying repellent on both skin and clothes.

"When it gets close to being empty, we can always go out and buy another can," says Baldus Jr.

The Baldus family says they won't let the West Nile Virus ruin their celebration.

"We're going to have a good time," says Christina Baldus.

The Baldus family says they also had their trees sprayed with repellent, which they say didn't solve the problem, but they believe it helped.